For some donors with retirement savings, the requirement to receive distributions translates into an easy way to support what they love at UVM. One loyal supporter shared her thoughts with us, and we wanted to share her experience with our broader community of supporters.

At age 70-1/2 or older, many savers may have the option to withdraw funds from their IRA each year, and at age 73, savers are typically required to. It’s an option or necessity that can align with one's charitable intentions especially well.

The University of Vermont has many loyal donors who use a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) as a tax-efficient and fulfilling way to make a difference at UVM, while satisfying their IRA rules.

Ellen S. is a retired educator who is a grateful and passionate supporter of the Prospect School online archives, a collection that keeps alive the vision and expression of a progressive elementary school formerly based in North Bennington, Vermont. UVM maintains it, keeping access to information about the school's "unique processes of collection, observation, reflection and description" available for educators in Vermont and across the nation.

Ellen uses the QCD option to support this important UVM resource each year. Here's what she told us:

"Early in my career as a public school teacher, I was introduced to the Prospect School and Center and attended Prospect’s Summer Institutes and Fall and Spring Conferences for all of my teaching career. At my first summer institute, I participated in an in-depth study of one child whose work is in the Prospect’s archive, and I was hooked! Prospect introduced me to a way of learning from and about my students and my own teaching practice that supported me in staying close to the children’s school lives and in developing creative ways of dealing with the realities of public schools. I was thrilled when UVM agreed to house Prospect’s multi-faceted archive, a huge collection that documents many aspects of the life of one small school in Vermont.

"Each year I make a Qualified Charitable Distribution to a UVM fellowship that enables selected educators to spend a week at UVM exploring that archive and bring what they learn into their own teaching. The QCD benefits the Fellowship program, and I get a tax benefit by doing it this way. The folks at the Foundation made it easy by providing all the information I need, and this has become part of my annual giving plan."

Ellen expresses something special that we hear from so many UVM donors. There are deeply satisfying ways to have a real impact on today's students, learners and community members, and nearly all of them can also help meet financial as well as philanthropic priorities.

We'd be honored to help you find yours.

Can We Help You Learn More?

There are so many ways to support what you love at UVM. All can be part of your annual giving plan, and to build your legacy. Please feel free to get in touch with Cheryl Brodowski, Director of Legacy and Planned Giving, at cheryl.brodowski@uvm.edu with any questions you may have any time.